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Jan. 22, 1924., 1,481,426

' F. W. MCENTIRE CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR Filed March 16. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet l WMV/111111, ,E

Jan. 22, 1924. 1,481,426

- F. W. MGENTIRE y CENTRIFUGAL SEPAHATOR Filed March 16. 1921 2v Sheets-Sheet 2 un IIIIIIII ...f

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Patented Jan. 22, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATEN'l` FREI) WILLIAM MGENTIRE, 0F SPRECKELS, CALIFORITXA.

CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR.

'0 all who/m. t 'may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRED WILLIAM MG- ENTIRE, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Sipreckels, county of Monterey, and State of California, have invented a new and useful Centrifugal Separator, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in centrifugal separators and its object is to provide a centrifugal separating machine adapted to concentrate solid matter suspended in liquids in all cases where the solid matter is either lighter or heavier than the liquid. My invention is primarily intended to be used in connection with the sugar industry for the .separation of the solids from the carbonated juice of sugar beets. Since in this juice there is only a slight difference in the respective specific glravities of the solids and the liquids and tie solids are of a flighty nature, their sepa ration has offered particular difficulties and the methods employed at the present time have not proven satisfactory.

Particular advantages of my machine are that it is continuous in its action, receiving a constant flow of the mixture to be separated and ejecting continuous streams of solids and liquids separated, that it may be easily adjusted as to the degree of concentration, and can be operated economically and efficiently.

While I have referred to the sugar industry as offering a particular field forthe use of my invention, I do not wish to confine myself to that particular industry and desire to be protected on my machine as such, without any reference to any particular industry.

I attain the objects hereinabove outlined by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, `in which Figure (l) represents a side view, partly shown in section, ,of my apparatus, Figure (2) a seo tional view taken along line 2-'-2 of Figure (1)Figure. (3) an enlarged detail view of a part of the machine shown in Figure (l), Figure (4) a side elevation of an,` inner basket forming `part of my device, Figure (5) a horizontal sectional view along line 5-5 of Figuref(1). and Figure (6) a detail plan -view of a spreading plate inside the asket shown in Figure (4;). Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

From Figure (l) it may be seen that the principal features of my device are two revolving baskets, an inner one (2) and an outer one The latter consists of a bottom (4), an upwardly expanding' conical wall (6) a fiat top plate (7), and a covering casting (8), bolts (9) firmly connecting corresponding flanges of the conical wall and the covering casting to the flat top plate (7). Both the casting and' flat top plate are pro` vided with corresponding circular openings (ll). The fiat top plate has a plurality of ports (l2) near its rim and holds, by means of a cylindrical wall (14) emanating from its lower surface between the central. opening (ll) and the ports (l2), a second plate (1G), having a corresponding central hole (i7)` and marginal ports The -outer basket is mounted on a vertical shaft (2l), resting on a collar (22) and keyed to the shaft, as shown at so as to partake of its rotating motion. The shaft rests in a bearing (24).

The inner basket (2) is somewhat smaller than the outer basket and consists of a bottom plate (26), a conical wall (27) running parallel tothe wall (6), a plurality of vertical vanes (28) arranged inside said. wall, a plurality of upwardly slanting vanes (29) arranged on the outside of said wall and a spreading plate (3l) on the inside of the basket, some distance above the bottom. The wall of the inner basket is perforated, as shown at (32), and extends upwardly within close proximity of the plate lhe spreading plate (3l), shown in detail in Figure (6), is provided with a central circular opening (33) and radial slots (34E) adapted to fit on the vertical vanos (LS), angle irons holding the plate firmly in place. The botom plate is provided with a flanged central opening (37) adapted to receive the lower end of a tubular shaft (38) fitted and rotatable on the shaft (2l).` A key (.39) binds the flange to the shaft. and the latter rests ou the bottom o f the outer basket.

The inner shaft (2l) carries the pulley (lll), by means of which it may be connected to some suitable power. rlhe sl'iaft rotates the outer basket and also a nog wheel (42) keyed to the shaft. The cog wheel engages a plurality of pinions (43) rotating on shafts (Liet) supported in brackets (45) of a stationary guide sleeve (46), and the pinions 4engage al second cog wheel (4:7) 'keyed' to the tubular shaft (38). rotate in the same direction.

rfhis way both shafts rllhere is a llU slight difference in the number of teeth, however, of the .two ycog wheels. I preterably have one of the two provided with 6l) teeth and the other with 61, so that one ofv the baskets rotates a trifle fas-ter than the other. lVhich one should rotate faster depend-s upon the direction of the rotation and of the vanes (29), the object being to have the vanes act as slides on which any substance placed between the two walls ot the baskets may rise. Thus, in the arrangement of Figure (4), if, viewed' from above, the shaft turns clockwise, the outer' basket should rotate faster than the inner one, whereas, if the shaft rotates counter-.clock wise, the inner basket :should rotate faster.

Immediately above the top of the upper basket I provide a plate (51) supported on brackets (52), which has three anged holes (53) (54) and (55) through which extend three pipes (56), and (58). The pipe (57) is the `inlet pipe and extends downwardly below the spreading plate (31). The pipes (56) and (58) are discharge pipes, (56) for the lower chamber (61), formed by the `-plates(7) and (16) and (158) for the upper chamber (62) formed between the plate (7) and the top casting (8). As wil-l be seen from VFigure (1), the pipes are turned in the chambers so that their mouths (63) -oppose ythe current of the revolving masses contained in said chambers. Either yof the pipes (56) and (58) can be turned in their flanged holes so as to regulate the distanceof their mouths from the walls of their respective chambers and after adjustment may be set by means of the screws (64).

The device works as follows: The juice to be separated enters the lower part of the 'inner basket through the inlet pipe (57 v). Assuming that the solids to be separated are heavier than the liquid, centrifugal power will torce the solids through the perforations of the inner basket into the space between the inner and the outer baskets, where they will be taken up by the slanting vanes and carried upwardsthrough the ports (12) into the upper chamber (62) where they will be hurled into the mouth ofthe discharge pipe (58), the degree of concentration of the solids discharged dependingr upon the distance ot the mouth of the discharge pipe from the wall of the upper chamber'.

In the meantime, the liquids have been forced inwardly and have risen through the central opening i-n the spread-ing plate into the upper part of the inner basket, filling all `of the said basket and forcing their way through ports (18) into the lower chamber to lbe there received by the discharge pipe (56). Y

In case fthe liquid is yheavier than the solids contained inthe same, ymy :device will.

Amain object of which is lo assist the solid matter in rising to the top.

I claim:

1. A centrifugal separator comprising an outer and an inner basket. the latter having a perforated wall, means for rotating said two baskets on thc saine axis at differ ent speeds, an upper and a lower receiving chamber fixed to the top of the outer basket, ports leading from the inner basket to the lower chamber and from the outer basket to the upper chamber, an inlet leading to the bottom ot the inner basket. and a stationary discharge pipe for each chamber adapted to receive the contents ot said chamber.

2. A centrifugal separator comprising an outer and an inner basket, the latter having a perforated wall, means for rotating said two baskets on the same axis at ditferent speeds, au upper and a lower receiving chamber fixed to the top of the outer basket, ports leading from the inner basket to the lower chamber and from the outer basket to the upper chamber7 a plate ri 2gidly supported .above said two baskets, an inlet pipe supported in said plate leading to the bottom of the inner basket, and a stationary discharge pipe for each chamber adapted to receive the contents of said chamber supported in said plate.

3. A centrifugal separator comprising an outer and an inner basket, means for rotating said two baskets on the same axis at different speeds, an upper and a lower re ceiving chamber fixed to the top of the outer basket, ports leading from the inner basket to the lower chamber and from the outer basket to the upper chamber, a plate rigidly supported above said two baskets, an inlet pipe supported in said plate lending to the bottom of the inner basket, and. a stationary discharge pipe for each chamber adapted to receive the contents of said chamber adjustably supported in said plate.

4. In a centrifugal separator, an outer and an inner basket, the latter having a perforated wall, a spreading plate a small distance above its bottom, and a plurality of vanes secured to the outside of its walls, the outer basket having an u per and a lower receiif'ing chamber secure to its top, ports leading from the inner basket to the lower chamber and from the outer basket tothe upper chamber, means for rotating said two baskets at different `speeds on the same axis, means for feeding said inner basket below said spreading plate and yadjustable discharging A,means for either of said chambers.

vFRI) NVILLIAM MGENTIRE. 

